^6 REPORT Of the gECRtitARY. 



cies of bummiug-bird. In many cases tbe bead, wing, and tail of tbo 

 bird are flgnred by wood-cuts inserted adjacent to tbe descriptive text. 

 6. Fever. A Study in Morbid and Normal Pbysiology. By H. C. 

 Wood, A. M., M. D. (Publisbed October, 1880.) 4to, 2G6 pp., IG wood- 

 cuts and 5 plates, containing 17 figures. Tbis memoir was more partic- 

 ularly described in tbe annual report for 1880. 



Antiquities of Nicaragua. — Of separate memoirs publisbed during tbe 

 year tbe first is Arcbseological Eesearcbes in Nicaragua, by J. F. Brans- 

 ford, M. D. (Publisbed January 1881) 4to, 100 pp., 202 wood-cuts and 

 2 plates, containing 40 figures. Tbis uiemoir gives an account of a large 

 number of interesting relics of tbe aboriginal inbabitants of Nicaragua, 

 disinterred by Dr. Bransford bimself during visits to tbat place in 187G 

 and in 1877. Tbe fiue collection of ancient Auierican burial-urns, pottery, 

 and otber objects tbus obtained, amounting to about 800 articles, bas 

 been deposited in tbe National Museum. Of tbese not more tban about 

 sixty were acquired by gift or purcbase, tbe remainder bavingbeen dug 

 out from tbeir original deposit by Dr. Bransford, or under bis imme- 

 diate direction. More tban a bundred of tbe larger urns were found to 

 contain buman boues. 



Rain-fall Tables. — Anotber publication of tbe past year is. Tables and 

 Results of tbe precipitation in rain and snow in tbe United States au<l 

 at some stations in adjacent parts of Nortb America and in Central and 

 Souib America, collected by tbe Smitbsonian Institution and discussed 

 under tbe direction of Josepb Henry and Silencer F. Baird, secretaries. 

 By Charles A. Scbott. Second edition. (Publisbed May, 1881.) 4to, 

 2G0 pp., 8 wood-cuts, 5 plates, and 5 maps or cbarts, exbibiting by 

 isobyetal curves tbe mean rain-fall for eacb of tbe four seasons and for 

 tbe year. Tbe first edition of tbis work was publisbed by tbe Institu- 

 tion in Marcb, 1872, giving a tabulation of observations to tbe close of 

 18GG. As a considerable amount of material bas been subsequently ac- 

 cumulated, it was tbougbt but just to bave tbis additional information 

 iucorporated in a new and tborougbly revised edition of tbe tables. 

 Tbe work of arrangement and discussion was committed to tbe same 

 editor, Mr. Cbarles A. Scbott, assisted by Mr. E. H. Courtenay,and tbe 

 new tables include observations made from tbe beginning of 18G7 to 

 tbe end of 1874, and in some cases to tbe end of 187G. Tbis extension 

 bas resulted in increasing tbe size of tbe original work bj' about 100 

 Images. It is believed tbat tbis compilation will prove a valuable con- 

 tribution to tbe study of American meteorology and climatology. 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. — Two volumes of tbe octavo 

 series bave been publisbed during tbe year, forming volume XX and 

 volume XXI of tbe " Miscellaneous Collections." 



